Discerning between good and evil, continued
Questions that help us test, continued:
Does the action bother my conscience?
- The conscience is a person’s inner awareness of conforming to the will of God or departing from it, resulting in either a sense of approval or condemnation.
- Scripture talks about having a “good conscience”
- Conscience can be tainted:
- I Timothy 4:1-2 – seared with a hot iron
- Ephesians 4:19 – being past feeling
- Limited or incorrect knowledge is no excuse!
- Romans 14:5 – let each be fully convinced in his own mind
- Romans 14:23 – one who doubts is condemned
Does this action hinder my influence?
- Matthew 5:13-16 – you are the light of the world
- Philippians 2:14-15 – shine as lights in the world
- Does my language hinder my influence?
- Ephesians 5:1-11 – obscenity, foolish talk, crude talking
- Ephesians 4:29 – no corrupt word
- Ephesians 4:31 – put away evil speaking
- If people are not ashamed of obscenity around you, maybe you aren’t having the influence you should.
Does the action dominate my life?
- I Corinthians 6:12 – I will not be mastered by anything.
Could this action cause others to stumble?
- I Corinthians 8:13 – if food makes my brother stumble, then I will never eat meat again
Can I carry out this action to the glory of God?
- I Corinthians 10:31
- Can I do this action and at the same time glorify God?